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| Name | Formidable (1825) | Explanation | |
| Type | Second rate | ||
| Launched | 19 May 1825 | ||
| Hull | Wooden | ||
| Propulsion | Sail | ||
| Builders measure | 2289 tons | ||
| Displacement | 3594 tons | ||
| Guns | 84 | ||
| Fate | 1906 | ||
| Class | |||
| Ships book | |||
| Note | 1869 t.s. | ||
| Snippets concerning this vessels career | |||
| Date | Event | ||
| (January 1840) | Out of commission at Sheerness | ||
| 23 August 1841 - 23 November 1841 | Commanded by Captain Edward Thomas Troubridge, fitting for the Mediterranean | ||
| 14 December 1841 - 23 April 1844 | Commanded by Captain Charles Sullivan, Mediterranean | ||
| 24 April 1844 - 21 October 1845 | Commanded by Captain George Frederick Rich, flagship of Vice-Admiral Edward William Campbell Rich Owen, Mediterranean | ||
| 16 June 1854 - 10 September 1857 | Commanded by Captain John Jervis Tucker, guard ship of Ordinary, Sheerness | ||
| 15 September 1857 - 30 April 1858 | Commanded by Captain John Coghlan Fitzgerald, guard ship of Ordinary, Sheerness, and Captain-Superintendent of Sheerness Dockyard | ||
| 1 July 1858 - 30 May 1859 | Commanded (from commissioning at Sheerness) by Captain John Coghlan Fitzgerald, guard ship of Ordinary, Sheerness, and Captain-Superintendent of Sheerness Dockyard (until he died) | ||
| 9 July 1859 - 2 July 1860 | Commanded by Captain Rundle Burges Watson, Superintendent of Sheerness Dockyard | ||
| 3 July 1860 - 2 July 1863 | Commanded by Captain William Garnham Luard, flagship of Vice-Admiral William James Hope Johnstone, Sheerness | ||
| 3 July 1863 - 11 April 1866 | Commanded by Captain John Fulford, flagship of Vice-Admiral George Robert Lambert, then Charles Talbot, Sheerness | ||
| 21 April 1866 - 31 December 1868 | Commanded by Captain Donald McLeod Mackenzie, flagship of Vice-Admiral Baldwin Wake Walker, Sheerness | ||
| 24 June 1868 - 30 October 1868 | Commanded by Captain Viscount Gilford, flagship, Sheerness | ||
| Extracts from the Times newspaper | |||
| Date | Extract | ||
| Fr 7 January 1842 | PORTSMOUTH, Thursday. The Conway, 26, Captain C.R.D. Bethune, C.B., arrived yesterday afternoon from China, with $2,000,000, weighing 65 ton, part of the ransom of Canton, on board. She landed her despatches at Plymouth, having hove-to off that port for the purpose. Upon her arrival at Spithead she did not fire the usual salute, her captain, with proper consideration, declining to do so in consideration of having invalids on board. The Conway has had a very tedious passage, and was off Plymouth some days ago. Within a few hours of her arrival, Mr. Cooper, from the Treasury, arrived by a special train on the Gosport branch of the South Western Railway, bringing an order from the Lords of the Treasury for the specie to be transferred to the terminus at Gosport, and forwarded to Vauxhall. It will be landed early tomorrow morning. The Conway has been out five years and four months from this port, where she was fitted. The Formidable, 84, Captain Sir C. Sullivan, Bart., is ordered from Sheerness, to escort the King of Prussia to England. His Majesty will embark in the Firebrand steamer (and not in the Warspite, as erroneously stated). The Formidable is to sail for Ostend on the 14th instant. | ||
| Ma 10 January 1842 | It is now understood that the squadron which will be despatched to convey the King of Prussia to this country will consist of the Warspite, 50, Captain Right Hon. Lord John Hay; the Vindictive, 50, Captain T. Toup Nicholas; the Formidable, 84, Captain Sir Charles Sullivan; and the Alfred, 50, Commodore Purvis. The two last-named ships are now at Sheerness; the Warspite and Vindictive will go round in the course of the week. After this service the Warspite will take out the Right Hon. Lord Ashburton on his mission to America [where he negotiated the Webster-Ashburton Treaty ]. There will be two or three steamers, besides the Firebrand, in which vessel it is alleged His Majesty will embark, but upon this point nothing is positively known, for it entirely depends upon His Majesty’s own inclination whether he will embark in a steamer or a man-of-war. | ||
| Fr 14 January 1842 | PORTSMOUTH, Thursday, Jan. 13. The Warspite. 50, Captain Lord John Hay, hauled off from her hulk to moorings yesterday afternoon, preparatory to her going out of harbour, which it was intended she should do this day, but as the wind is right in her teeth and blowing fresh, she will be compelled to postpone her departure for Spithead until the wind moderates or becomes more favourable. A steamer of the first class, with great power, is much wanted here to assist vessels out of harbour, as the Echo Government steam tug, which is usually employed in towing vessels out to Spithead, is not sufficiently powerful to take out a large ship like the Warspite in the face of even a moderate wind. At the time the "Queen" went out of harbour the Vixen steam frigate was sent for specially to assist in taking her out. The Warspite will sail on Saturday. The North Sea Pilots, who are to take her and the Vindictive into the port where His Majesty the King of Prussia will embark, arrived here yesterday, having come round for the express purpose of undertaking the duty. It is not yet known in what particular vessel His Majesty will embark. The Warspite has been ordered to get a Prussian standard from the dock-yard, to be ready in the event of His Majesty preferring a sailing vessel to a steamer.The Vindictive, 50, Captain Toup Nicholas, which is to be the consort of the Warspite in conveying the King of Prussia j to England, has all her running gear up, and will bend her sails to-morrow. Every exertion. is being made to get her ready for sea by Saturday. The Alfred, 50, Commodore Purvis, will not be in a sufficient state of forwardness to form one of the squadron to attend on the King of Prussia, as she will not be ready for sea within three weeks. The squadron will consist of the Warspite, Vindictive, and Formidable. It is expected that Admiral Sir C. Seymour, one of the Lords of the Admiralty, will hoist his flag on board the Formidable and accompany the squadron on this special mission. | ||
| Tu 18 January 1842 | THE KING OF PRUSSIA. THE DOWNS, Monday Evening. The squadron appointed to escort His Majesty the King of Prussia to this country has been ordered to assemble here. Two of the ships have already arrived — the Warspite, 50, Captain the Hon. Lord John Hay, and the Vindictive, 50, Captain Nicholas. The Formidable, 84, Captain Sir Charles Sullivan, has left Sheerness, and is expected here every tide, together with the Firebrand, and the other steamers which are to form a portion of the expedition. The Warspite arrived here yesterday, early in the morning, and the Vindictive this afternoon. They are lying at single anchor, very near to each other, and are objects of very considerable attraction, and excite the admiration of all the nautical men assembled here, of which there are a great many at present, there being about seventy merchant vessels at anchor, wind bound. The Warspite, when she was in commission as a 74, used to sail remarkably well, and still retains her powers of speed now she has been razeed. This is the first time the Vindictive has ever been at sea, either as a razee or previous to her being cut down, for she never was in commission as a 74. From the opportunity that has been afforded in her trip from Portsmouth to this place of ascertaining her qualities, it is considered that she will prove a very good sailer. No doubt the Warspite and she will have a trial of speed while out together on their present excursion.It is expected that the squadron will leave this on Wednesday, and proceed off Ostend, and there await His Majesty’s embarkation; but of course this or any other arrangement must be subject to the wind and weather which at the time may be prevailing. There is a very great probability, that, unless the weather is extremely favourable, His Majesty will take the most direct course, and shorten his sea voyage by landing at Ramsgate. This is generally the plan adopted by King Leopold of Belgium when he visits England. According to the present arrangement, however, it is intended to take His Majesty up the river, and land him at Woolwich, the ships of war accompanying him to the Nore. It is understood, though by no means certain, that he will embark on Thursday. The fulfilment of this as well as the other arrangements must be entirely governed by the circumstances which may occur in the mean time. | ||
| We 19 January 1842 | The Downs, Tuesday.—The Warspite and the Vindictive frigates got under weigh this day, at 12 o’clock, and proceeded in company to Ostend, there to await the embarkation of His Majesty the King of Prussia, which is to take place on Thursday next. The Formidable, it is understood, will not form one of the squadron, but will be at anchor in the Nore, ready to man the yards and salute His Majesty as he passes. The Firebrand and another steamer have already gone over to Ostend, where they will be joined by the Warspite and Vindictive. The Royal Visiters.—Woolwich, Jan. 18.— The Firebrand steam vessel, Commander John Neale Nott, was expected to leave her moorings at half-past 1 o’clock to-day, to proceed to Ostend, to be in waiting to receive the King of Prussia, but had not sailed at 4 o’clock, in consequence of some defect being discovered in her engines when she got her steam up and was ready to start. A numerous party went on board the Firebrand so late as 11 o’clock last night, several of whom were the guests of the Lord Mayor yesterday after being present at the laying of the foundation stone of the Royal Exchange. The Shearwater steam vessel, Captain Washington, has her steam up, and is ready to sail from her moorings opposite the dockyard, to form part of the squadron destined to accompany the King of Prussia to this country. The Lightning steam vessel, second master H.K. Bowen, having given satisfaction during her experimental trip yesterday, has been ordered to form part of the squadron, and has her steam up to-day in readiness to proceed with the Firebrand and Shearwater steam vessels to Ostend. The orders have not yet been issued defining the duties of the troops of the garrison of Woolwich on the day of the arrival of the King of Prussia in England, but the highest authorities in these matters state that the Guard of Honour of the Royal Marines will have to attend at Greenwich on Friday, the 21st inst., as the arrival of his Majesty is now expected to take place on that day, or early on the following morning, if no unforeseen circumstance retard the vessels in their voyage. It is now more generally the opinion in all quarters that the landing of the King of Prussia will take place at Greenwich. Their Majesties the Kings of Prussia and Belgium will land at the Royal Hospital, Greenwich, on Friday next, at 12 o’clock (weather permitting). They will be received by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Cabinet Ministers, Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, the Governor, the Foreign Ambassadors, and corps diplomatique. The Royal Marines, as a guard of honour, will be drawn up in the grand square. The pensioners, of which there are 2,710 within the hospital, under the command of Lieutenants Rivers and Bedford, will range round the quadrangle. The one-armed and one-legged college men who have fought under Nelson, Collingwood, and other naval heroes, will be placed at the royal landing-place, through these the distinguished visitors will pass. The boys of the upper and lower school of the Naval Asylum, under the command of Lieutenant Rouse, R.N., will be drawn up at the steps between the painted hall and the chapel. Lieutenants Tucker, Felton, De Montmorency, and Casey, will have charge of the gate. The east gate is for the admission only of those who have tickets; the west gate for ingress and egress of the carriages of the Royal family and the Cabinet Ministers and Ambassadors. All the naval and other officers are to appear in their full uniforms, and the pensioners and scholars in their best suits. The east side of the grand square will be appropriated to the officers’ families and the persons admitted by tickets of admission, which are from the Governor only. Their Majesties do not intend visiting any part of the institution, as the entire procession will proceed to Windsor Castle, via. Camberwell and Wandsworth, shortly after their landing. The landing-place will be covered with crimson carpeting, as well as the pathway leading to the Royal carriages. The splendid bands of the Royal Marines and Royal Artillery will be in attendance. Some strong detachments of cavalry will also attend, and a sufficient body of the metropolitan police, together with Mr. T. Fisher, high constable of the borough. and the local authorities. | ||
| Fr 28 January 1842 | PERILOUS SITUATION OF HER MAJESTY’S SHIP VINDICTIVE. The Vindictive, 50, Captain Toup Nicholas, C.B., left the Downs in company with the Warspite, for Spithead; she has not yet arrived. It is supposed the Vindictive will take out Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane recently appointed to the East India command. The Hastings, 74, at present preparing to pay off at this port, will, next week, be recommissioned by Captain H.W. Bruce, as the permanent flag-ship of Sir T. Cochrane. The Spy, 10, Lieutenant Potbury, sailed yesterday for Plymouth. The Queen, 110, Captain Rich, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Owen (red at the fore), Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, will be ready for sea next week, having a complement of upwards of 1,000 men. The Formidable, 80, Captain Sir C. Sullivan, with the Alfred, 50, Commodore J.B. Purvis, are ordered to this port from the eastward. The former ship proceeds to the Mediterranean, and the latter for South America. The Revenge, 78, Captain the Hon. W. Waldegrave, is daily expected at Spithead from the Mediterranean, to be paid off; as also the Winchester, 52, Captain Carter, from North America, to be recommissioned by Captain C. Eden, for the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir J. Percy, ordered to the Cape of Good Hope as Commander-in-Chief, vice King. Noon. Since writing the above, Her Majesty's ship Vindictive has been discovered in a perilous situation, at anchor near the dangerous sand or shoal called "the Dean," off St. Helen's. It is at present blowing a gale of wind from W. by S.. and should it not moderate, great fears are entertained that this splendid frigate will ground on the edge of the shoal.4 p.m. The Vindictive has unfortunately grounded on "the Dean," with her mizenmast cut away, and a heavy sea breaking over her, owing to the violence of the wind, now blowing a strong gale about W.S.W., with every appearance of the wind increasing. She has fired several guns, and made signate of distress. Unfortunately there is only one small steamer belonging to Government now here; two dockyard lighters are gone to her assistance with anchors and cables. It is feared little or no good can be rendered this ill-fated ship, owing to the lateness of the day; and, from her alarming position, white the present gale continues, it would be attended with danger getting boats on board her. The Vindictive is a new frigate, built at this dockyard, on Mr. Blake's plan. This is the first time of her going to sea. The greatest anxiety and suspense will naturally prevail during the night as to the fate of this noble ship, with her gallant crew, near 400 in number.(FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.) PORTSMOUTH, Wednesday, 9 o’clock, p.m. I regret to inform you that the fine ship Vindictive, 50. Captain T. Nicholas, C.B., K.H., is now aground on "the Dean," having taken the ground this day at noon, and remained there, with the sea beating over her, till night hid her from our view. The last glimpse we had of her, her mizen had gone over the side — most probably cut away. At it will not be high-water till midnight, and the ship would of course be much strained, it is feared she will drive on the iron coast of Selsy Bill; if so, the most serious consequences may be dreaded.LATER INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, Thursday. The Vindictive, 50,Captain J.T. Nicholas, took the ground on the "Dean" Bank, near Spithead, yesterday morning and was, last night, considered to be in imminent peril; am happy, however, to inform you she got off this morning with the loss only of her mizen mast, the wind fortunately having shifted from S.W. to N.W. | ||
| Ma 14 February 1842 | PORTSMOUTH, Sunday. The Warspite, 50, Captain Lord John Hay, which sailed on Thursday afternoon with the Right Hon. Lord Ashburton and suite, has been compelled to put back, and anchor in the Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) roads. When she got under weigh she had a moderate breeze from the S.S.W., which shifted to the westward during the night, and increased to a gale, in consequence of which she bore up, and came to an anchor off Yarmouth yesterday morning. The wind is now again favourable for her, being from the south-east, with a moderate breeze, but the atmosphere is very foggy.There is no intelligence yet of the Formidable, 84, and Alfred, 50, which left Sheerness early in the week. It is supposed they have been detained in the Downs by the unfavourable weather. A number of volunteers are waiting to join them as soon as they arrive. As the wind is now from the south-east, in all probability they will be here this evening or to-morrow morning. The Belzebub, steam-vessel, now building in this yard, is to be called the Firebrand instead of the present steamer so called, which is hereafter to be designated the "Black Eagle," in compliment to His Majesty the King of Prussia. | ||
| Sa 12 December 1868 | The ironclad ship Agincourt, 26, 6,621 tons, 1,350-horse power (nominal), which is ordered to be prepared to relieve the Formidable, old 84-gun line-of-battle ship, as flagship at the Nore, is expected to be ready to commence her duties at the station early in the ensuing year. The Formidable will have her officers and crew paid down, and transferred to the Agincourt, as soon as that vessel is ready to receive them. According to existing arrangements, the Agincourt will have her full complement of officers and seamen, as it is intended she shall make occasional cruises in the Channel, instead of lying idle at her moorings. The Formidable, which is one of the last of the old handsome liners of the last century, will either be converted into a hulk, or, what is more probable, be broken up as being unfit for any further service. | ||
| Sa 19 December 1868 | The Formidable, 26, Capt. D.M. Mackenzie, flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Baldwin W. Walker, K.C.B., Naval Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, will be put out of commission early in the ensuing year, and her officers and crew turned over to the ironclad ship Agincourt, 26, 6,621 tons, 1350-horse power (nominal), as soon as that vessel has been completed and ready to commence her duties as flagship. Sir Baldwin Walker's period of flag service will terminate shortly, but no official announcement has yet been made as to his successor in the command at the Nore. | ||
| Tu 29 December 1868 | The Agincourt, armour-plated screw man-of-war, 26 guns, 6,621 tons, 1,350-horse power, arrived at Sheerness yesterday afternoon from Devonport to take the place of the Formidable as flagship at the Nore. The Agincourt was accompanied from Devonport by Her Majesty’s ship Terrible, 19, paddlewheel frigate, 1,850 tons, 800-horse power, Capt. Trevenen P. Coode, and entered Sheerness harbour during a heavy gale of wind, accompanied by heavy gusts of rain, from the south-west, the barometer being at 28·30, and still falling. It was found next to impossible to safely moor the Agincourt. Her anchors were, therefore, dropped, and fortunately they held the ground. At the time of the despatch of our parcel, however, the Government riggers were still endeavouring to moor the ship on the west shore. The Terrible proceeded further up the harbour to Backstakes Beach, where she anchored, Before returning to Devonport with the seamen riggers who navigated the Agincourt to Sheerness the Terrible will re-coal. Staff-Capt. Spain, assistant-master-attendant of Devonport Dockyard, had charge of the Agincourt on the passage round from Devonport. | ||
| Fr 1 January 1869 | The Agincourt, 26, 6,621 tons, 1,350 horse-power (nominal), will commence her duties to-day as the flagship of the Vice-Admiral Commanding-in-Chief at the Nore, relieving the old 84-gun sailing line-of-battle ship Formidable, Capt. D.M. Mackenzie, the officers and crew of which are to be turned over to the Agincourt. It is intended that the Agincourt shall have her nearly full complement of officers and seamen, as it is arranged that she shall occasionally make cruises during the summer in the Channel, to exercise her hands. Vice-Admiral Sir Baldwin W. Walker has somewhat recovered from his late severe illness, and as his term of service expires in the spring, he will probably be granted leave of absence till that occasion by the Admiralty, so as to relieve him of all official duties. The old flagship Formidable will, in all probability, be shortly broken up. | ||
| Th 7 January 1869 | The whole of the officers and crew of the Formidable, late the flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Baldwin W. Walker, Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, have been turned over from the Royal Naval Barracks to the Agincourt, 26, 6,621 tons, 1,350-horse power (nominal). which has been commissioned as the new flagship. Vice-Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker is still unable to discharge the active duties of the Naval Commander-in-Chief in consequence of his recent severe illness, and it is understood that he will shortly proceed on leave until the period of his command expires. The Formidable has been entirely dismantled, and has only her lower masts standing. As soon as the officials connected with the master shipwrights' department have reported as to her condition the Admiralty will decide as to whether she shall be retained for harbour service or passed into the shipbreakers' hands. | ||
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